Hi All, Thank you for sharing all the different feelings , thoughts, issues that you are facing as we enter the last month of preparation. It is very obvious to feel such jitters inside as at the end of the day we all are human beings a…
Hi All,
Thank you for sharing all the different feelings , thoughts, issues that you are facing as we enter the last month of preparation.
It is very obvious to feel such jitters inside as at the end of the day we all are human beings and it being one of the important turning points in our career, we cannot help but thinking about it.
Now, first question that comes to our mind is if it is obvious, then what differentiates those who succeed from those who are not able to do that well on D-Day !!
It is nothing but how do we handle all these!! Do we allow such deterring thoughts to overcome our mind and control us OR do we control such deterring thoughts and make our passion to achieve heights overcome such thoughts!!
Those who are able to do the latter emerge as winner and those in the former category often find it difficult to succeed!
Secondly, after reading all the comments on the ping you must have realized that it is not only you but there are many who are facing similar situation. So, there is no need to get bogged down thinking what is happening to me when exams are approaching .. no need to feel under confident just because such thoughts are coming now and then.
Now, with a determination in mind that no matter what happens I ( read We ) will overcome all the deterrents and emerge as winners to take the first step in the direction to achieve our long term dreams in terms of career that provide us satisfaction , lets kick off with the responses to the different thoughts shared!!
Request to just wait for sometime till all the responses are posted here so that we can read at a single go everything! 😃 During all this time, if you have anything to share, please post it as comment at the ping from where this thread has actually originated.
Stay tuned! 😃
Cheers!
Starting off :)
1. @rkshtsurana Mock scores dipping suddenly, Is it the reflection of what is there in future ?
No, sudden dipping mock scores are not at all the reflection of what lies in future for you. One or two or three off mocks at this stage doesn't mean that you cannot score high on D-Day. There have been people in past who scored less in their last 1-2 mocks but scored very well on D-Day .
However if you have high number of mocks going on the wrong side, then do analyze them to see if the mistakes are in understanding the concept itself or in the application ..once you find it out you can work accordingly.
For those who have their confidence directly proportional to mock scores , the best way to boost your confidence generally is to stop writing mocks at a high note , so to overcome the jitters because of above reason, suggest to take mock of period between 2002-2006 where CAT paper was not very tough as it became in years that followed before CAT went online. You can also take a mock that had questions closer to the actual CAT. This can be done 2-3 days before CAT Day and then you can just stop taking mocks and keep yourself relaxed with a light revision.
However, once you interact with lot of people who have been there and achieved it, you will see majority saying that don't get bogged by few low mock scores... an off day comes in everyone's CAT journey ..it is good that it came few days before D-Day , now you are on safer end and will not face it again .. so be ready for a good score :D
2. @Estallar12 - Used to take 3-4 mocks per week earlier.. now not even 2 mocks a week .. have time for everything except mocks .. some fear pertaining to what will happen to my confidence if i score low now!!
A part of your thought above is already addressed in the earlier response. 😃
Now this is again something that I have seen happening to people in my batch during preparation and in batches that came thereafter. It is not a big worry 😃
Saturation stage comes in preparation journey of everyone and you are just facing it... I actually saw people in my batch taking a complete break for a week or two just because of this reason but most of them ultimately ended in top IIMs , so no need to worry 😃
Coming back to your case, major reason is 4 mocks a week is really exhausting assuming you had been following them up with detailed analysis. Seeing you correctly solving the questions available in means other than mocks like Prep feed, QA and other threads , I dont find it as a big reason to worry.
I will suggest to just take one full length mock ( 1 per week ) along with 1 sectional test ( 1 per day) for a couple of weeks till you overcome this saturation stage. After 2 weeks, you will find it bit easy to be back on your regular track of 3-4 full length mocks. But do ensure that you keep backing this 1 mock per week and sectional tests with their analysis ! 😃
Also, dont bug your mind a lot for couple of weeks thinking that I am not taking high number of mocks... afterall , our mind also gets tired and we need to relax it for sometime. You should have taken pressure if you were not practicing at all but it is not the case with you. Reduced number of mocks for a couple of weeks will not harm you and infact freshen you and your mind back. One of the most important state to be in when it comes to the day that actually matters. 😃
PS: I am sorry for the formatting of post, shall rectify it once i return from office. 😃
@visionIIM-ACL thanx a lotfor all ur efort.so as to pacify me and solve my queries..surely i ll take ur words and try to focus on my aim..thanx a lot..:)
I have already talked about dipping mock scores and declining confidence due to it in above posts, so that should address the respective part of your thoughts right now!
What might be the case of worry is that you start researching while taking the mock and is not able to focus. To handle this, just remember one point : You are here to score marks in paper, not to research on the kind of questions ... you are not the one who will be scored on the basis of how many different ways you knew, how many variations you could have solved for a question .... BUT you would be scored just to mark the correct answer for that particular question's particular type present in screen before you.
So, understand yourself as well as say the same to yourself when you start researching during the mock!! Remember every exam is going to mark you only for what is present in question paper, it wont mark you for the otherwise knowledge that you have.
Mock analysis is the time to do all the research ... then you should work on different variants of a question ... but when you take up a question in mock, dont think about any other thing except what is in question and what you are asked to find/arrive at. Try saying this to yourself whenever your mind starts wandering :)
As far as pressure is concerned, best way is to take out time amidst all preparation for things that you like. It may be playing, movies, music, reading, PGing or anything! Dont over exhaust yourself with CAT and MBA books, coaching material that you stop enjoying the preparation and start finding it as a burden. More you enjoy it, more you treat as a regular part of your routine , less pressure you will feel on yourself. 😃 This is again one of the most natural things that happen to anyone of us ... no matter we take up any exam, go for some big business task, are at any stage of our career!! Even best of the players might find just before a huge tournament that they haven't practiced enough!!
But, this doesn't mean that they aren't prepared to take up a bigger challenge that lies in actual tournament. Similarly, in your case this feel doesn't reflect that you are not prepared to maul the CAT.
No good thing goes waste, no hard work goes futile, no efforts in right direction end up without giving fruitful results!! So, don't get bogged down by any such thought!! If you have prepared well, done what is required to be one among the best, rest assured that you will get desired results!!
There might be one or two off days but all the days wont be and you will be rewarded for everything in the form of good score and finally a good convert! 😃
So, cheer up ... stay calm and confident .. dont let your mind think negatively ... whenever it starts thinking in wrong direction .. say to yourself : I am all set, I have worked hard .. I wont let it go without giving me results .. I will and will surely achieve success, nothing can go wrong as I am the controller and I am all set for the challenge!!
Buckle up yourself after this and start revising/preparing as per your plans! 😃
Superb morale booster ... Thanks @visionIIM-ACL
Hi
I cannot find the original post from where this thread originated so that i can post my query there. Can anyone help as i think this thread is only for motivational replies and not the problems 😃
@@visionIIM-ACL I read one of your other links in which you have really motivated . one day I was not feeling gud due to the mock scores and i read your post by chance and felt really back on track .never knew such help is also present at pagalguy. Thanks a lot 😃 though m not able to find that thread again but your replies here are a real boost up
5. @maddy2807 - worked very hard this time... but it always happen that either of my score is below the cutoff... also sumtimes i lose my confidence... wat wud be the best strategy at such a crucial time...
In case scores are going below at par score in every mock these days, then it is most important to know where are we actually making mistake. Is it in the concepts or the application part ?
You can come to know this by analyzing few mocks where you could not do well. Once you know this, then first work on areas where you are going wrong conceptually and then work on application based areas of improvement.
Once you start feeling comfortable, try to solve sectional tests regularly, 1-2 per day followed by proper analysis. This can be coupled with a full length mock every 2-3 days and once your scores come back on track, you can take mocks as per the frequency that suits you. 😃
6. @Brooklyn - My VALR is doing great at d moment touchwood !! Despite focussing at accuracy, missing it out in Section 1 i.e. QA one!!
As I have mentioned earlier, at this point of time, it is not good to just get bogged down by getting questions wrong or see score dipping in any particular section... back yourself and start analyzing where you are going wrong, what kind of mistake it is and how it can be overcome.
Discuss with peers out here, seniors and/or anyone who can help you in overcoming the areas where you find out that you are lacking!!
Bu remember one thing - You need to back yourself first !! You need to say to you that what has been happening in any section will not happen from now !! Unless you back yourself nothing will work.
So the gist lies in the fact to trust your abilities even in the times of downturn in scores... stay confident that you will make a come back and you definitely will! 😃
7. @paridhi11890 - Already discussed with you few days back 😃 Let me know if anything is still unanswered!
8. @Anivesh90 -
After giving so many mocks , everytime scoring in the early nineties, seems like there's no scope for improvement now..please someone tell me what to do, how can i again get that enthusiasm and zest back which I had earlier...?
Please go through post # 1 and if you still feel the same, let me know and we can discuss over it! 😃
9. @satyashiva.das -
For the initial 6 SIMCATs my percentile used to be below 80.After a descent preparation, my percentile for SIMCAT 7 and 8 crossed 80. But again in SIMCAT 9 my percentile became 65. i m feeling tensed and having no clue on what to do...
I feel reading the responses above shall address what you are having as a doubt! 😃 In case you still need any suggestions, feel free to discuss!
10. @khareaditya25 -
Ma performance in Aimcats is consistently in 80s. not improving.. what last min. prep will give boost to performance on actual Cat day.
Please go through earlier posts !! Let me know if you still have any more doubts! 😃
For All -
No matter what ups and downs come in this journey for top B-Schools, most important is that we sustain confidence on ourselves!! Our confidence on our abilities reflect our attitude and no matter whether CAT or any other exams goes online or remains offline, key to success lies more in our attitude while taking up the exam rather than depending just on aptitude.
You can see many people who have had great aptitude but just could not do well on D-Day and similarly there might be people who probably did not had that great aptitude but still they coupled their aptitude with a positive attitude , focus and succeeded ultimately.
There would be things that will distract us, try to deter us but the winner would be one who will overcome this and sustain the passion. So, whenever any things pulls you down, talk to yourself ... talk to you about your dreams... talk to yourself about what you want to achieve!!
Remember, you cannot find a better motivator that your inner self! 😃 There lies the real inspiration for all of us!! 😃 So, just enjoy every step in this journey even if it is trough... let smile in tough times or distracting times, give you the confidence that will ultimately lead you to the coveted B-Schools!!
Cheers! 😃
I seriously recommend watching this movie called "50-50".
It's about how a dude who has a 50-50 chance of survival after he is diagnosed with cancer deals with it. And trust me he doesn't really whine as much as we think he would.
Although it has nothing to do with CAT preparation or the exam itself, or any kind of motivation, it does put the more important things in perspective and it helps me relax whenever I fret about the 'what-ifs' of CAT.
@visionIIM-ACL thanx man!!!ur the motivational guru...comes of gr8 help...keep the good wor going.....
Great stuff!! This is surely gonna motivate :).
Though my query is not answered!!! 
. I guess that was too silly to be answered 
. But I got my answers :).Great job Vision saar :clap:
@abhibeloved said:Great stuff!! This is surely gonna motivate .Though my query is not answered!!!. I guess that was too silly to be answered. But I got my answers.Great job Vision saar
Still there are few unanswered queries, shall respond to all of them by today EOD!!
Apologies for the delay!
@visionIIM-ACL said:Still there are few unanswered queries, shall respond to all of them by today EOD!!Apologies for the delay!
where are we supposed to post queries?
@visionIIM-ACL :sir one more doubt..... i gave CAT last yr....scored a pathethic 84%ile OA ...so i cant shake dis feeling away ki wat if dis yr also im screwed like last year. I agree that i hav improved considerably compared to last year. But there's this fear in the back of my head still
11. @maddy2807 - par is time par performance girne se confidence b girta hai... how to get back that confidence... i was performing well before... percentile was always above 90... not from last 2-3 aimcats the scenario has reversed...
Buddy
I understand what you are going through. It happens with many of us out here that our confidence goes low when we are not doing good after a series of good mocks. But, in such cases just say to yourself that one or two off days happen for everyone. Do not let this stop you from properly analyzing the mocks where you have not done good, see where you went wrong and work accordingly.
And to boost up your confidence before you go for another full length mock, take sectional tests of 3-4 topics in which you are relatively more comfortable. Once you start feeling comfortable, get back to full length mocks and give it with a fresh mind that knows just one thing and that is to conquer anything that comes between you and your ultimate goal 😃
12. @hanushanand -
Buddy
First of all, it is important to give equal weightage to both the sections if you wish to get into top B-Schools. So, study both QA and VA well, do not ignore any of them.
Secondly, length of CAT paper is less than that of JEE, so no need to worry a lot, we can sustain our calmness and concentration for duration of CAT. However, if you see it as an issue for you that is harming your concentration during exam, start practicing it from smaller duration and then gradually increasing to a longer duration and ending up at duration for CAT.
For starters, check out with 1 sectional ... then with just 5-10 min break, try 2 sectionals ... once you feel comfortable with it, switch to full length mocks !! Let me know if you have any doubts on this!
However, dont bug your mind much.. it is something that can be easily overcome with some practice coupled with passion to increase your concentration level and will to sustain it for long to pursue bigger dreams ! 😃
13. @MAHISH - I know it's difficult to crack it with such a mindset, but day by day am getting frustrated at work and I can't channelize my energy into preparation.
What is the best way to deal with anything that frustrates you ?? Just answer to yourself:
1. Allow it to rule you and prevent you from succeeding in life
2. You overcome it and follow the way to achieve something that soothes you in long run.
Solution to your problem lies in the answer you select for yourself.
Remember, corporate life is not a cake walk even after MBA. You need to control and manage your emotions, frustration , activities and people around even then. No one is going to put success infront of you, you need to carve out your own path to achieve it.
So, go ahead , say to yourself " Dude, office and all related frustrations are secondary, what matters the most is the way to move out of them and since I know the way, i should just concentrate on it and from now on, I will just concentrate on it!! I am not that weak that a frustration overcomes my focus " This shall hep you inn restoring the energy in right direction .
14. @ashish21may - Buddy, what you are undergoing is same as what @Estallar12 posted, please go through the first reply on this thread and you will get an answer 😃
Hi, a query sir. am a working professional but have taken a month leave for cat prep. had joined CL but it didnt helped me a lot. my cat scores are in a sine curve with the maxima of around 90 marks ( twice only) . I was frustrated about the strategy n all but now i m just solving more and more questions from SIS , sectionals and mocks . Hope that the practise will ultimately help me to know the type of questions and will hopefully increase my speed and accuracy . Guess i would do some miracle in cat. Will that approach help or just i m fooling myself ?
PS: i m giving mocks on alternate day basis and even analysing them
@mangooman said:Hi, a query sir. am a working professional but have taken a month leave for cat prep. had joined CL but it didnt helped me a lot. my cat scores are in a sine curve with the maxima of around 90 marks ( twice only) . I was frustrated about the strategy n all but now i m just solving more and more questions from SIS , sectionals and mocks . Hope that the practise will ultimately help me to know the type of questions and will hopefully increase my speed and accuracy . Guess i would do some miracle in cat. Will that approach help or just i m fooling myself ?PS: i m giving mocks on alternate day basis and even analysing them
I can easily imagine myself in your situation . No approach is best , do what suits you .. and you will only find the best approach by learning from your mistakes ..
Don't worry too much about mock scores , they don't add up to make a real cat score ever
CL test gym is very good ,Concentrate on CL test gym totally and also practice Past Cat papers ( as per my experience)
Also dont concentrate on quantity of Mocks , but give yourself time to analyze them effectively .. dont directly see the answers but actually attempt the questions again and take your time doing them ..
Keep working hard and keep improving
CAT paper is more about confidence and holding nerves than about tough questions or huge competition :)